A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar

A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Friday, September 30, 2016

Aden’s first
proper stamps were issued only three years before BB’s cut-off date. So there aren’t many of them. And they’re
fairly easy to find in old albums. Immensely popular because of their sailing
dhows, scenic views, and excellent engraving, every aspiring philatelist of the
1940s and 50s had to have a set. The higher values not represented in BB are
more difficult to find.

Stamps in the
second row all have May 12, 1937 cancels, probably soaked off a single
over-franked philatelic cover.

Census: 19
stamps in BB spaces, one tip-in. No supplement page.

Jim's Observations

The 1937 "Dhow" stamps are somewhat large format (31mm X 24mm), and, as the first issue found alphabetically in the Scott Classic catalogue, serve as a wonderful introduction to the beauty of classical era stamps. Aden Blog Post and Checklist

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Unusual lithography makes the 1919 Azerbaijan stamps stand
out; it’s almost like silk screening. The five-ruble example (second row,
second stamp) is a later Soviet reprint, as evidenced by the inverted left
column ornament. Some white paper varieties are in this row, too. Counterfeits
are common, although they sometimes command prices higher than the genuine.
Soviet era stamps (1922 and thereafter) appear in the supplement pages. Acid in
the paper makes them tend to crumble. Old feeder albums commonly have chaotically
displayed Azerbaijanis, especially from the Soviet era.

Big Blue has 100% coverage of the National Republic, while 0% coverage of the Soviet era.

The National Republic issue is on thin white paper, while the Soviet re-printing is on thick grayish paper. In my experience, the thick grayish Soviet re-issue is far more common in collections.There was also a design change on the 5r & 10r stamps for the Soviet issue, as noted by Bud.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

After World War I, the League of Nations split
administrative control of the Ottoman Empire between France and Britain.
Alaouites (Alawite State), located on the Mediterranean, fell to France whose
stamps, along with those of Syria, were overprinted in French (Alaouites) and
Arabic (العلويون). BB affords
space to the Syrians only. Anomalies burgeoned into a collecting specialization
(see inverted example on the supplement page). Before the end of the BB era, Alaouites
stamps were superseded by those of Latakia and Syria.

Census: 30 in BB spaces, one tip-in, nine on the supplement
page (seven of which are surcharged French stamps).

Jim's Observations

A nice selection of stamps, especially the Air Posts, but a bit pricey. Big Blue could have included some French Mandate issues, as well as some additional Syrian stamps. The C21 Air Post is the highest valuation @ $50.

Jim Jackson
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This blog began back in 2011 primarily as a vehicle to provide a checklist for owners of the Big Blue (Scott International Part I 1840-1940 Album).

If one is unfamiliar with the checklist, this link can serve as an orientation.

One of the strengths of the checklist is it mimics the spacial layout of the page.

One can easily pencil in the numbers, or determine quickly which stamps one has or doesn't have on a page.

But a spreadsheet it is not, with all the advantages of data manipulation.

I am most pleased to announce that Al, a user of the checklist, would like to convert the checklist into an Excel spreadsheet. Here is the information from Al....

I am attempting to create an Excel Spreadsheet to mirror the information provided by Jim in his blog.The Spreadsheet's format reflects the layout of the 1997 Scott International Album.

The Spreadsheet contains the following columns:* Country Name - Self Explanatory.* Page Number - Page Number's restart with 1 for each new Country.* Row Number - Row Numbers restart with 1 for each new Page.* Stamp Type - Regular, Air Post, Postage Due, Special Delivery, etc.* Issue Date - Issue Date as printed in Scott album.* Catalog Numbers - The Catalog Number recommendations made by Jim for each space in the album. If multiple suggestions have been made, they are separated by slashes. For blank spaces, Jim's recommendations are shown in parenthesis.

The Spreadsheet also contains an introductory tab which echos the above information and explains how I personally use the document.

Before I get too married to this format, I would like input from others as to how to make it more useful.

I have uploaded a preliminary version (which contains only Australia) to my account, at this docs.google.com site..../(Update Note: The link has changed and no longer works. For the completed part IA1 Aden-Ethiopi a, use the link for 1-25-2017 at the start of this blog post. )(The link will change (Update: has changed) when the real and final checklist(s) are uploaded.)

From there, you can save a copy to your computer using the menu: File -> Download As -> Microsoft Excel.

If you have any suggestions, please leave them as comment to this post.Al

Jim's Note:

Al told me the reason he is doing this is he wants it for himself - a very good reason! But he would like to share his effort with Big Blue checklist users (or potential users).

Bravo!

The plan for now is to release the final spreadsheet checklists in sections, much like the current Big Blue checklists are divided. When Al has completed Section IA1 (Aden-Ethiopia), that would be announced here with a blog post and a link given, and the reader could then download the Excel file for his own personal use (non commercial).

This work is very labor intensive for Al, so I would expect it will be many months that the BB Checklist Excel Spreadsheet Project will be ongoing.

I can give no estimate (other than "months") when the first installment, the Section IA1 Excel checklist, will be ready.

But the project is in the early stages, so feedback on what is useful would be appreciated!

So, if you have questions, observations, or suggestions, now is the time to leave comments about this project!

Al is prepared to handle and answer the technical questions/comments, and I will try to cover the rest.

Then Reverend Ernest Millar at Mengo of the Church Missionary Society produced stamps on his typewriter for internal postage use in Uganda from 1895-1896. These are some of the most crude and valuable pieces of paper ever issued (51 stamps: CV up to $80,000).

Typeset stamps, only slightly less crude and valuable (15 stamps: CV to $37,000+), were issued in 1896.

Engraved "Victoria" stamps proper for Uganda were issued by London's De La Rue from 1898-1902. And, a two stamp set for 1902 consisted of British East Africa stamps that were overprinted "Uganda".

And so ends the short (but very expensive for collectors!) life of the Uganda Protectorate proper stamps.

Entebbe was the capital, and the population was 1,600,000 in 1903.

Stamps for the overall former territory of the British East Africa colony was then issued from 1903-1919 as "East Africa & Uganda Protectorates", consisting of the Uganda Protectorate and British East Africa (to 1920, later called Kenya Colony after 1920).

In the Scott catalogue, the remaining classical era stamp issues are found under "Kenya, Uganda, & Tanzania" from 1921-1954. They consist of "East Africa and Uganda Protectorates" (1921), "Kenya and Uganda" (1922-1927), and "Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika" (1935-1954).

Uganda

Then in 1962, Uganda, at the birth of self-government and independence, again issued their own stamps, as well as joint issues from Kenya, Uganda, & Tanganyika (Tanzania) until 1977.

1898 Scott 72a 3a bluish gray "Queen Victoria"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2014 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Uganda 1895-1902, 76 major number descriptions. Of those, two are CV $1+, or 2%. !! Wow, let's take a closer look at the CV situation.

The earlier crude typewritten stamps and typeset stamps ( 1895-1896: 66 major numbers) are expensive to very expensive (CV $20+-$80,000), and really specialty territory. There are also forgeries to worry about with these crudely produced stamps.

The last ten major numbers (1898-1902) are the more typically engraved "Victoria" stamps. Of those, eight are CV $1+-$10+. For the WW collector, obtaining a sampling of the 1898-1902 stamps, and perhaps 1-2 of the 1896 typeset stamps might be a reasonable goal.

What is the story on the earlier crude stamps?

A Reverend Ernest Millar of the Church Missionary Society produced stamps for internal postage country use on his typewriter! ( For "overseas"destinations, the letters were franked with British East Africa issues upon arrival in Mombasa.) The 1895-96 stamps (51 major numbers) can be found with wide letters, narrow letters (Millar obtained a new typewriter later in 1895!), and in violet (a violet ribbon was inserted into the typewriter in late 1895). All of these values can be found forged, and they carry a very expensive CV $225-$80,000). Naturally, I don't have any, and I suspect you do not either. ;-)

The 1896 designs on white or yellowish paper (15 stamps), either with or without an overprinted "L" in black, were typeset by the Reverend F. Rowling at Lubwa's in Usoga. They are still crude and plain, but less crude and expensive (CV $20+-$37,500) than Millar's typewritten stamps. I have an example that heads the blog post, and will show it again here....

The WW collector might be interested in obtaining an example of the 1896 15 stamp typeset issue, illustrated above. It is found with a black overprinted "L", without overprint, and on yellowish and white paper. Five stamps have a CV of $20+-$40+, within many WW collector's budget.

Now the stamp itself- isn't it remarkably simple? When I saw the stamp in one of my feeder albums, I thought it was a cinderella or a label, not a postage stamp.

1898 Scott 71 2a brown "Queen Victoria"

Engraved by De la Rue

The eight stamp 1898-1902 "Victoria" issue, engraved by De La Rue, is as elaborate as the previous issues were simple and crude. Note the elephants on either side of the queen.

Actually all of the stamps, save one (1902 1a carmine rose), was issued in 1898. But, of interest, there were three stamps that were also issued in 1902 with a noticed shade change. The 3a gray was issued in a 3a bluish gray, the 8a olive gray was issued in a 8a gray green, and the 1r ultramarine was issued in a 1r bright blue shade. All of the 1902 shade changes have minor numbers in Scott. The 3a bluish gray that heads the "Into the Deep Blue" section appears to be one of these minor number 1902 stamps.

1898 Scott 73 4a dark green

CV for the eight stamp issue is $1+-$10+ for six stamps.

On April 1, 1901, the British East Africa and Uganda postal administrations were merged.

Consequently, the last two stamp issue for Uganda (not illustrated) in 1902 had "Uganda" overprinted in black or red on a 1/2a yellow green stamp and a 2 1/2a dark blue stamp on a 1896 British East Africa "Victoria and British Lions" design. CV is a modest $1+-$3+.

Besides the postal administrations merging, I note that the eastern province of Uganda was also transferred to British East Africa on April 1, 1902.

Deep Blue

1898-1902 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has four pages for the 1895-1902 stamps of Uganda. All the major numbers have a space except for Scott 9 10 on 30 (c) black, which @ CV $80,000, is unlikely to be missed by the average WW collector. And the Scott 10-16 spaces @ CV $60,000-80,000 will probably not fill up fast either. ;-)

Uganda in 1991 Edition Big Blue

Big Blue

Big Blue, for all the editions 1969 or later, on one page, has ten spaces. BB, in fact, gives a space to all ten of the 1898-1902 "Victoria" engraved issues. If one excludes the earlier 1895-1896 typewritten/typeset stamps (66 major numbers), which are expensive to very expensive, (and a "representative" album would have no business including), Big Blue actually provides 100% coverage! ;-)

The consequence of BB's generosity is that some of the spaces are rather expensive to fill.

Of interest, the 1940s editions only have four spaces, and there are no expensive ($10 threshold) stamps. This serves as a reminder, that, although the 1940s editions can have more extensive coverage, the 1969 and later editions sometimes have the better coverage.

Checklist

1898-1902

69,70,71,72,73,74,

75,76,77,78,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

1898 Scott 72 3a gray ($10+)

1898 Scott 73 4a dark green ($10+)

1898 Scott 74 8a olive gray ($10+)

1898 Scott 75 1r ultramarine ($55)

1898 Scott 76 5r brown ($90)

1898 Scott 74 8a olive green

Out of the Blue

Uganda (Protectorate) was one of those countries in Big Blue, that when I did an inventory last year, I had no stamps! Fortunately, BB does not include spaces for any of the expensive typewritten/typeset stamps. But, seemingly to compensate, ALL of the ten stamp "Victoria" issue is included in BB.

Since last year, I've picked up a few examples of Uganda Protectorates, but still have a way to go to fill all the spaces in Big Blue. ;-)

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

There’s not much to say about Aguera stamps. The likeness of
King Alfonso XII is repeated many times in BB’s Spanish colonial selections.
Interesting non-philatelic cancels are difficult to find and expensive. See
also stamps of Rio de Oro and Spanish Sahara.

Census: seven in BB spaces, two tip-ins, no supplements.

Jim's Observations

Spanish colony stamps tend to be sparse in general feeder albums, at least in the United States. I find them much "rarer" than what their modest CV would suggest. I have four of the seven spaces filled.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Quick History
Ubangi-Shari (Oubangui-Chari) was a central African French territory and colony from 1903-1958, when it became the Central African Republic.

19th Century Map -Pink is French Territory

Note ""Oubangui et Chari" north of "Congo Belge"

The French had established the Bangi (Bangui) outpost along the Ubangi river in 1889, and the territory was named after the rivers Ubangi and Chari.

Administratively, the territory was attached and detached to other French entities during it's existence. It's all rather convoluted, but Stamp World History has an excellent map and information if one wishes to study this more in depth. Thanks Gerben!

Ubangi-Shari was established on December 29, 1903 from the heretofore named French Congo (Gabon-Congo) territory, after the French victory over the Egyptian Abbas II. The French Congo was renamed the Middle Congo (Moyen Congo), also in 1903.

(Between 1904-1910, the French territories in the area were grouped and known as the "French Congo" Federation, according to Stamp World History. In 1906, Gabon and Middle Congo were separated. The name "French Congo" is often found on maps, rather than "Moyen Congo".)

On February 11, 1906, the Lake Chad area was added, and the territory was known as Ubangi-Shari-Chad. Ubangi-Shari-Chad was a dependency, and attached to the Middle Congo. Middle Congo stamps were used there.

French Territories (green)

On January 15, 1910, the territories of Ubangi-Shari, Middle Congo, and Gabon were administratively merged as the French Equatorial Africa Federation. This was a federation that existed from 1910-1934, similar to the French West Africa colonies federation.

The first issue for Ubangi-Shari proper was released in 1915, and consisted of Middle Congo stamps that were overprinted "Oubangui-Chari-Chad".

Beginning on April 12, 1916, Ubangi-Shari was separately administered.

The Lake Chad portion of the territory was removed from Ubangi-Shari in 1920, and the stamps, beginning in 1922, now were overprinted "Oubangui-Chari".

During WW II, Vichy France controlled the territory from June-August, 1940, when it was captured by the Free French Forces.

In 1946, Ubangi-Shari becomes an overseas territory.

Central African Republic

In 1958, self government was achieved, and, on August 13, 1960, full independence as the Central African Republic.

1924 Scott 56 45c chocolate & violet "Bakalois Woman"

Color Type of Middle Congo 1907-22, Overprinted in Black

With Additional Overprint in Blue

Into the Deep Blue
The 2014 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Ubangi-Shari 1915-1931, 109 major stamp descriptions. Of those, 43 are CV <$1-$1+, or 39%. Many of the rest of the stamps are CV only a few dollars more. Clearly, Ubangi-Chari, ( And the classical French colonial stamps in general) are reasonably affordable for the WW collector. (British colonial stamps, while a % are affordable, tend to be more expensive.)

Many of the stamps for Ubangi-Shari are overprinted "types" of the French "Middle Congo" issues. They are "types", because Ubangi-Shari's stamps are in different color combinations compared to the original "Middle Congo" issues. That certainly makes the Ubangi-Shari issues more attractive, and one doesn't have to worry that there could be a fake overprint on a Middle Congo stamp if the Ubangi-Shari stamp is more valuable CV wise.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1915 Scott 3 4c blue & brown "Leopard"

Stamps of Middle Congo Overprinted in Black

Between 1915-22, a twenty-two stamp issue proper for Ubangi-Shari-Chad was released, by overprinting in black, stamps of the Middle Congo. CV for the issue ranges <$1-$2 for thirteen stamps.

What a fine looking stamp!

Leopard Distribution in Africa

And it certainly appears that the leopard can be found in the territory, as well as throughout much of sub- Saharan Africa. But the leopard is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as leopard populations are declining because of habitat loss.

1922 Scott 26 5c indigo & rose "Leopard"

Color Type of Middle Congo of 1907-22, Overprinted in Black

Chad was removed as part of the territory in 1920. Consequently, the 1922 eighteen stamp issue has the overprint ""oubangi-chari" in either black or red.

CV ranges from <$1-$5+ for fourteen stamps.

Note this issue is a "color type" of the 1907-22 Middle Congo stamps. For comparison, the Middle Congo 5c "Leopard" is dark green & blue.

1924 Scott 45 10c deep green & gray green "Leopard"

Color Type of Middle Congo of 1907-22, Overprinted in Black

With Additional Overprint in Black

Between 1910-1934, Ubangi-Chari was in the French Equatorial Africa Federation with the other French territories/colonies in the area. Hence, the 1924-33 issue of thirty-three stamps added an "Afrique Equatoriale Francaise" overprint in black, blue, or red.

Many of the 1924-33 stamps applied the additional overprint on the 1922 issue. But others were new color or denomination types.

1925 Scott 52 30c chocolate & red "Bakalois Woman"

Color Type of Middle Congo 1907-22, Overprinted in Black

With Additional Overprint in Black

The middle denominations had a "Bakalois Woman" pictorial.

The pictorial image originally was part of the 1990-04 French Congo issue. I couldn't find much on "Bakalois", but they were probably members of the Bantu-Kongo tribal group.

1925 Scott 62 75c deep blue & light blue "Bakalois Woman"

Color Type of Middle Congo 1907-22, Overprinted in Black

With Additional Overprint in Red

Note here the additional overprint is in red.

CV for the thirty-three stamp issue is <$1-$5+ for 29 stamps.

1925 Scott 66 1fr green & indigo "Coconut Grove"

Color Type of Middle Congo 1907-22, Overprinted in Red

With Additional Overprint in Blue

The highest denominations (nine stamps) show a "Coconut Grove". Actually, the only country in Africa today in the top ten list of coconut producing countries is Tanzania- at tenth.

Note the additional overprint is blue here.

1925 Scott 75 85c on 1fr violet & olive "Coconut Grove"

Types of 1924 Issue Surcharged with New Value in Black

Overprinted in Black, with Additional Overprint in Red

Between 1925-26, three stamp "color types" of the 1924 issue were surcharged with new values in black or red.

1916 Scott B2 10c + 5c carmine & blue "Leopard"

Regular Issue of 1915 Surcharged

In 1916, a semi-postal was created by surcharging in carmine the 1915 5c carmine & blue.

For French colonies, many of them produced a few semi-postals during this time period, apparently for the Red Cross.

1930 Scott J12 5c deep blue & olive "Landscape"

Postage Due Issue of 1930

Of interest, the only stamps for Ubangi-Chari that were not overprinted from another country's stamps (Middle Congo) were the 1931 Colonial Exposition Issue (common design type), and an eleven stamp postage due issue of 1930!

I am a bit bemused that the French couldn't/didn't produce regular issue stamps for Ubangi-Chari (except overprinted ones), but managed for the postage dues! ;-)

For most countries in the classical era, postage due stamps and their designs were an afterthought at best, but not for the French!

Deep Blue

1924-33 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has nine pages for the stamps of 1915-1933 Ubangi-Shari. All of the major Scott numbers have a space.

1915 Scott 4 5c dark green & blue "Leopard"

Stamps of Middle Congo Overprinted in Black

Big Blue

Big Blue '69 has three pages and 79 spaces for the stamps of "Ubangi". The coverage is located between "Turkey in Asia" and Ukrainia. Coverage is a robust 72%.

The 40s editions have the spaces arranged differently, and there are 77 spaces total.

There is only one "expensive" (CV $10+) stamp required for the spaces.

Checklist

1915-22

1,2,3,4,

5,6,7,

8,9,

10,11,12,14,15,

1922

23,24,25,26,

31,27,28,29,32,

Next Page

1924-33

41,42,43,44,

45,46,47,49,

50,51,52,53,54,55,

56,57,58,60,61,62,

64,65,67,69,70,72,

1931

82,83,84,85,

Next Page

1925-27

77,76,78,79,(74),

Semi-Postal

1916

B1,B2,

Postage Due

1928

J1,J2,J3,J4,J5,J6,J7,J8,

1930

J12,J13,J14,J15,

J16,J17,J18,J19,

J20,J21,J22,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

1933 Scott 70 1.75fr dark brown & deep buff ($10+)

B) ( ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1928 Scott 63 75c rose & dark brown "Bakalois Woman"

Color Type of Middle Congo 1907-22 Overprinted in Black

With Additional Overprint in Black

Out of the Blue

Every time I review a French colonial country, I am struck by the beauty of their stamps, and their affordability.

If the WW collector wished to collect "in sections", gathering and collecting the French sphere stamps as a priority wouldn't be a bad strategy.

Note: Maps and leopard distribution map all appear to be in the public domain.